Tabarez calls for leniency

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez believes that any extension of Luis Suarez's ban 'would be over the top.'

Last Updated: 03/07/10 6:16pm

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez believes that any extension of Luis Suarez's ban 'would be over the top.'

The striker must serve an automatic one-match ban after receiving a straight red card for his deliberate handball to deny Ghana substitute Dominic Adiyiah's last-gasp header in their quarter-final clash.

But this punishment may be increased as Fifa has confirmed it is looking into the case, with Suarez facing the possibility of being suspended for Uruguay's last match of the tournament - which will be either the final or the third-place play-off.

But Tabarez believes this would be too harsh a punishment, saying: "The disciplinary committee will see but it seems that (a two-match ban) would be over the top."

Meanwhile, Uruguay skipper Diego Lugano and Nicolas Lodeiro face a race to be fit for Tuesday's World Cup semi-final against Holland.

Key defender Lugano went off with an injured right knee in Friday night's penalty shoot-out win.

The skipper was replaced by Andres Scotti in the 38th minute and is now a doubt for the clash.

"He has bruising in his right knee - he will have a scan," team doctor Alberto Pan said as the squad trained at the University of Johannesburg on Saturday.

Pan added that Lodeiro had a bruised foot and will have tests, while defender Jorge Fucile - who is suspended for the Dutch game - is still under observation after suffering an awkward fall in the quarter-final.

"He is okay. He suffered concussion after bumping his head, neck and shoulder but he did not lose consciousness. But we have to take care of his state of health," said Pan.

Not impossible

Meanwhile, Tabarez believes it is not mission impossible to see off the unbeaten Dutch.

"Holland will be very difficult - but not impossible," said Tabarez, noting that "the Dutch have not lost a game since September 2008".

He added: "This generation is a little different to the traditional Holland - they are a very balanced side.

"At the back they give nothing away, they link well. That's an aspect that other Dutch sides, while they didn't neglect that side of things, they didn't ascribe it such importance.

"They also have really technically talented players in the middle of the park - Van Bommel, Sneijder, Robben... and some who ally incredible power to that technical skill, such as Kuyt while also retaining this Dutch view of the game of constantly attacking."